Truck



Dec. 31, 1946. p. M. LIGHT 2,413,458

TRUCK Filed Oct. 9. 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. @cu/ u 1wl l Dec. 31, 1946. D M, |GHT 2,413,458

TRUCK Filed oct. 9, 1943 2 sheets-Smet 2 Z r Oni y Patented Dec. 31, 1946 DavidvM. Light,*Chicago, Ill, assignor to Ameri` can Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application october' 9, 1943, serial No.-5o5,e2o

My invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a ride control'truck incorporating a friction device for dampeningoscilla-` cated by the lines 2-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2,

Vze claims.` (ci. 10s-197)" Figures 5 'andrl'alje .respectively a fragmentary top' planview and a fragmentary' lside elevation of the bolster.. Q y

iiiustiatethef'riction shoe is tions of the truck bolster. 4 [Figures 7, Sand 9 The general object of my invention is to pro- 5 detail, 'Figure '7 being arear elevation taken from vide a ride control truck wherein normal oscillaf the, bolster .engaging face thereof, Figure 8 being. tions of the bolster are dampened by a substana side elevation, and Figure 5,3` beinga bottom plan Itlally constant amount of friction and unusually view. A Y. Y y great or bouncing oscillations of the bolster, such A. Describing my invent'io v .inr, detailf the fside as may frequently occurunder service conditions, 10 frame comprises the tension member 2., the comare dampened by an amount of friction which in-rv pression member 4, and `a vcolumn 6 joining said creases proportionatelyl to the amount of relamembers adjacent each 4end,ofltheframe todetive movement between the side frame and .the fine a central bolster opening `8 and a .window bolster. K n opening I0 at each endof. the frame. Beneath A specific object of my inventionpis to design 15rv the bolster opening, thetensionvmember `ilk is of a truck such as above described in which friction box sectioncomprisin'g thefbottom chord I2, the shoes are disposed at'opposite sidesl of the bolster top chord I4,`the-inbo`ard andoutboard webs it in wedgeengagement therewith and in frictional and Iii, and the reinforcinggib .2o disposed inengagement with the adjacent columns, each .termediate' said vwebs and `siib'stantially rparallel shoe being actuated by a spring? compressedjbe; thereto.. The top chord I4'is widened and formed tween said shoe and an adjacent bolster jwall, with an upstanding ilange`l22 at each of theinauxiliary actuating means being provided for board Vand outboardsides thereof, said-'anges each shoe in the form of a spring supported on f affording convenientl confining means for the the side frame and having means projecting y bolster supporting springs 24 illustrated in elethrough an opening in the bolster wallr force- 25 vationin Figure 3 and diagrammatically in Figoperation with the' main shoe actuating spring. ures 1,2 and 4. y l y y The main spring is precompressed to such an ex- Seated as at`26 on the springs 24,is'a bolster tent that the reactive'force thereof r'during normal 28 havingat each side thereof a pocket iildened oscillation of the bolster is grea`ter"-.than the reby the inboard and outboard Walls 32 and 36 (Fige active force of the auxiliary spring. However, ure 2) and the transverse` web 36 extending` during an unusually great or bouncing oscilla.- therebetween, lsaid web being formed with an tion of the bolster, the reactive force ofthe auxarcuate portion 38 for the reception 0f a portion iliary spring is greater than lthat of the 'main '"of the associated friction shoe, as hereinafter disspring. 1 A' cussed, Formed on the bolster within the pocket.

Still another object of my invention is todesign 30 are the spaced inboard and outboard ledges a truck of the above describedA type wherein the 40, 4llpresentng Wedge surfaces 42, 42 (Figure 6) bolster, the side frame columns, and .the asso` sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column. ciated friction devices are formed and arranged j A friction shoe 44 is received within each to afford a quick wheel change, wherein the pocketil, said shoe being of skeletal form, as bolster is elevated in the bolster opening and reillustrated' in detail in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive moved from the top thereof while 'thev bolster andl comprising the' front or main friction wall supporting spring group remains in normal as- 46 frictionally engaged as at 48 with a liner 5@ sembled relationship with the rside frame. mounted on the column 6; At opposite sides In the drawings, thereof the shoe is provided with the spacedwing .Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of` a 45 members 52, 52 presenting crowned wedge surf railway car truck embodying my invention, one facesv 54, 54 for complementary wedge engageend onlyof the truck being illustrated inasmuch ment at 5B with the surfaces 42, 42, as best seen as it is symmetrical about its transverse center in Figure 4. The friction ,shoe also comprises a line. l Y `1 y A top wallV 58 aiiording a'spring seat as at 60 (Fig- Figure'2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the 50 ure 3) for the main actuating'spring 62 seated at structure shown in Figure 1 with the side vframe its lower end on a spring plate 64 mounted within illustrated in sectionthrough one of the columns. a complementary recess 66 in the bottom wall dii Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views takenrevof the bolster, Itjmay'be noted that the friction spectively in the longitudinal verticalplanes indishoe 44- is'formed with arear .wall 'l0 having a 55 loop 12 received within the arcuately formed por Ition 38 of the web-36.".f'fDflning the rear end of.

the pocket'30, andalign: with' the loop-12 are the openings Hand 'IB for ed in-the inboard'and outboard Walls 32 and-34 'defining the sides of the` Thus it will=be',- ,ufnjderstood that during pocket. assembly and disassembly ff': the truclc retaining means, such as pins,--may loop 12 and the aligned openings'll and J6 whereby the friction shoe-may be withdrawnafromengagement with the column vin. order .to facilitate..

removal and insertion of thefbolster.

-An auxiliary shoe actuating spring 18,2'il1us-y trated in section in Figure 3 and diagrammatically in Figures land-4, is associatediwitheach shoe 44, said springA being seated on the top chordV I4 of the tension member and supporting af spring cap 80 having a lug or projection 82 extending through a complementaryopening 84(Figure.3) in the bottom wall ofthe bolsterl opening, saidv projection 82 bearing against the spring plate 64.r

It will be understood, that, as illustrated, the spring 62 is precompressed-to such an' extent that the reactive forcethereof is substantially greater than the reactive force of the auxiliary-spring'.'18.V Thus duringv normal oscillations. of r the bolster the friction shoe 44 is urged against the'column by means'of the spring Bwhereby-a substantially constant amount of friction is developed, during normal oscillations of the bolster; ever, a relatively great or bouncngoscillation of the bolster occurs, the auxiliary spring 18.15 compressed to such an extent that its reactiveforcebecomes vgreater than the reactive force of the spring B2, and under these-conditions, the spring@ plate 64 is lifted bymeans of the spring-f cap 80 and the columns, and unusually great oscillationsf of the bolster are resisted by a graduallyincreasing amount of friction.

It may be noted that the bolster opening comprises a widened upper portion 86, and each side of the bolster 28 is provided with `inboard and outboardbolster guide lugsBS., 88, the outboard lugs, as will be clearly apparent from a consideration of Figure 1, being of less depth than the widened upper portion 8B of the bolster opening, whereby the bolster may be elevated therein` and removed therefrom along with the friction shoes 44, 44 and the actuating springs 62, G2 during a quick wheel change.

evinserted through the- .ster opening, ,resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means, apocket in each side ofthe bolster with l spaced inboard'and outboard ledges therein having wedge faces sloping upwardly. toward the .adjacent column, a friction shoe in each pocket saidv plates :and said` shoes, resilient lmeans mounted on said frame, spring caps on said lastmentioned resilientfmeans, having projections ex- It is to be understood thatI do not wish to be Y limited by the exact embodiment of the'device shown which is merely by Way of .illustrationand not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope 0i. the claims.

I claim:

I 1. In a railway car truck, a side frame' comprising a column, a bolster spring-supported from said frame adjacent said column, said bolster comprising spaced top and bottom walls, and friction means comprising a wedge surface on said bolster intermediate said walls, a friction member Vengaging said surface and a friction surface onsaid column, a resilient unit compressed betweensaid friction member and one of said walls, and arigid of said third-mentioned resilient means during normal'oscillations of thev bolster, and less than thereactive Aforce of said third-mentioned resilient means during an unusually-great oscillation ofthe bolster. Y

3. Inj arailway car truck, 4a sidev frame comprisingf spaced columns' andan intervening bolster opening, resilient meansron said frame insaid opening, a bolster ysupported on said resilient means, a pocket in eachsidezof the bolster with spaced inboad and outboardiledges therein having wedge faces slopingupwardly toward the ad- `iacent column, a friction shoein eachpocket having spaced wing ,portions `in complementary engagement with the associated faces, eachshoe being frictionally. engaged with. the adjacent column, .aspring plate in each-pocket seated on the bottom wallV of the bolster, resilient means bearing against saidl plates and, said shoes, and resilient .meansvmounted on said frame and cooperating with vsaid plates through openings in said bottom wall, said second-mentioned resilient means being'precompressed to such an extent that the reactive force thereof is greater than the rereactive force of said third-mentioned resilient means during Vnormal oscillations of the bolster and less than the reactive force of said thirdmentionedl resilient. means during an unusually great oscillation of the bolster. Y

4. Ina'railway car truck, a side frame Vcomprising spaced columnsand an intervening bolsterr opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a. bolster supported on said resilient means, a pocket in each side of the bolster with a wedge surface therein sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, .a friction shoe in each pocket in complementary wedge engagement with the associatedsurface, each shoe being frictionally engaged with the adjacent column, a spring platel in eachpocket seated on the bottom wall of the bolster, resilient means bearing against said plates and said shoes, resilient means mounted on the frame, and spring caps on said last-mentioned resilient means having projections extending upwardly through openings in said bottom wall and abutting respective. of said plates, said secondmentioned resilient means being precompressed to such an extent that the reactive force thereof is greater than the reactive force of said thirdcolumn, aspring platein eachpocket seated on the bottomwall Aof the kbolster,"resi-lient means" bearing againstk said platesand said shoes, and

resilient means mounted on VVsaid'frame and having means extending upwardly; throughV openings in said-bottom wall for abutment withsaidplates,

saidflrst -mentioned resilientmea-ns'zbeing precom- Pressed to such anextent thatsthe reactive force thereof-isgreater thanI the reactive/forcent said second-mentioned-,resilient meansj'during normal oscillations.ofthebolsten 6. In a-ride controltruckya side frameecomprising rspacedicolumnsand an intervening bolster opening, resilient means'on said frame in .said opening, a bolster supported onsaid resilient .-means, a vwedge surface on saidbolster ateach' side thereof slopingupwardly toward the adjacent column,l a shoe engaging each wedge surface and the associated column, a springV bearing against said shoe and against a spring plate seated on the bottomwall of thefbolster, a'spring onasaid frame,` and a cap on said last-mentioned spring i having a projection extendingthrough an opening in said bottom wall for engagement with said plate, saidiirst-,mentioned spring being precompressed to such an extent that thereactive force thereof is greaterthan the reactive force of said second-mentioned spring during limited oscillations of the bolster on said resilient means.

7. Ina ridey control truck, -a side frame-comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining therewith a bolster open` ing,l resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported --on said ,resilient means, a

wedge `surfaceon said bolster atA eachside thereof sloping upwardlyltoward'the-adjacent column, a frictionshoe engaging each Wedgesurface andthe associated column, anda pair ofv springs associated with each shoe'and arrangedin series with a spring plate itherebetween, the upper of said springs bearing against the associated shoe and the lower of said springs bearing against the tension member, and` anupwardly facing surface on said bolster affording-stop means'for said plate, said upper spring being precompressed to `urge said vplate into engagement 4vwith ysaid last-mentioned surface during normal oscillations of the bolster.

`8. In a railway car truck, aside frame comprising tension and compression members vand spaced columns defining therewith a bolster opening, a springr group on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said group, a pocket in each side of the bolster with a wedge face therein sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, friction elements in saidpockets incomplementarywedge engagement with the associated faces, eachelement being frictionally engagedwith the adjacent column, spring plates seated on the bottomvwall of thebolster in respectlve'pockets, resilient means bearing against respectiveplates and the associated elements, and resilient 'means seated on said tension member and having Vspring caps thereon extending upwardlyV through openings 6 in said bottom wall lfor engagement with said plates. Y

9. Ina railway car truck, a side frame comprising 'spaced columns ,and an interveningbolster opening, a spring group on said 'frame `in said opening, a bolster supported on said group, a pocket in each side of the vbolster with a wedge face therein sloping toward'theadiacent column, a.

`friction shoe in each pocket in complementary wedge. engagement with the associated face, each 1 shoe being frictionally engagedwiththe adjacent column, a spring vplate in `each pocket seated .against a-wall'of the bolster, resilient means bearing against said plates and said shoes, and means -mounted on saidiframe-and cooperating with said plates through openings in said bolster wall, said last-mentioned means comprising springs seated againstzportionsA of said'frame.

10..In a railway car truck, a sideframe comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a spring group on said'fra'me in said opening, a'bolster supported on ,said group, a

Apocket in each side ofthe bolster with a wedge jface therein sloping toward the adjacent column,

a frictionshoeln eachpocket in complementary i wedge engagement with the associated face, each :shoe being irictionally engaged with theiadlacent l column, `a spring plate in each pocket` seated against a wall of the bolster, precompressed resilient means bearing against said plates and .said shoes, andmeans mounted on said frame and engageable with said plates through openings in said bolster'wall for further compressing said resilient means duringunusually great oscillation ofgthe bolster. y

l1. Ina ride vzontrolytruclga` side frame comprising spacedicolumn's vand an intervening bolster opening, resilient meanson said frame in said opening, va. bolster .supported on said resilient means,- a wedge surface onsaidbolster at each side thereof sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, a shoe engaging each wedge'surface and the associated column, a spring bearing againstv thereof sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, friction shoes engagingsaid wedge means and the associated columns, and a pair of springs arranged in series between each shoe and the side frame, one of said'sprlngs being precompressed and 'cooperating with abutmentV means on the bolster to limit expansion thereof.

I3. In a railiway car truck, a side frame, a spring seat on said frame, resilient meansY on said seat, va bolster supported by said means, friction devices'carried yby said bolster at opposite sides thereof,veach of said devices being entirely 'independent ofthe other and comprising a. resilient element and a friction element urged thereby intoengagement with a friction surface on said frame for ldeveloping a substantially constant amount of friction'during normal oscillations of the bolster, and spaced-independent means on said frame projecting upwardly from Vsaid seat and each being adapted to engage an element of one device'for increasing the amount of friction ldeveloped by the friction element thereof against oscillation of the bolster.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in Vsaid opening, a. bolster supported on said resilient means, friction-'means carried by said bolster and cooperating with vfriction surfaces on said columns for developing asubstantially constant amount of friction during normal oscillations of the bolster, and resilient means on said frame cooperating with said friction means for increasing' the amount of friction developed thereby during an unusually great oscillation of the bolster. e

15. In a' railway car truck, a ,frame member, a bolster resiliently supported therefrom, friction elements "in complementary wedge engagement with wedge means onfthe bolster, said elements being in irictional [engagement with friction means on said frame member, precompressed resilient means bearing against said elements and a wall'v of said bolstenand means mounted on said frameand projecting through openings in said wall'said means being operable to further compressV said resilient means for increasing the amount of pressure exertedl thereby against said elements during an unusually great oscillation of thebolster. l v

16. In arailway-'car truck, a side frame com prisin'gf spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, 'a spring seat on said frame at the bottom-of said opening, resilientmeans on said seat, al bolster supported by said means, friction devices carried by said bolster at opposite sides thereof, each of said devices comprising a friction shoe in wedge engagement with wedge means on Vthe bolster and in frictional engagement with friction means on the adjacent column, and a substantially vertical spring reacting against thebolster and said shoe, and spaced independent means on said frame projecting upwardly from said seat and cooperating with respective springs for increasing the amount of friction developed by said devices during an unusually great oscillation of the bolster.

17. In a railway car truck, a, side frame, a spring group on said frame, a bolster supported on said group, a friction device carried by said bolster and cooperating with a friction surface on said frame for developing a constant amount `of friction during normal oscillations ofthe bolster with respect to the frame, and resilient means on said frame cooperating with said device for increasing the amount of friction developed thereby during an unusual oscillation of the bolster.

18.` In ajrailway car truck, a frame member, a bolster resiliently supportedtherefrom, a. friction element in complementary wedge engagement with wedge means on the bolster, said element being in frictional engagement with friction means on said frame member, compressed resilient means reacting against the'bolster and said element, and meansl independent of said friction means cooperating with said resilient means for increasing the amount of pressure exerted thereby against said element during unusual downward movement of the bolster.

19. In a railway car truck, a frame member, a bolster spring-supported therefrom, a'friction element in complementary wedge engagement with wedge means on the bolster, said element being in frictional engagement with friction means on said frame member, compressed resilient means reacting against the bolster and said element, and auxiliary resilient means seated at its lowerend against the frame member and operatively engaged with said first-mentioned resilient means for increasing the-amount of pressure against said element during unusual downward movement of the bolster.

2Q. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a column, a bolster spring-supported from said frame adjacent said column, said bolster comprising spaced top andbottom walls, and friction means comprising a wedge surface on said bolster, a friction member engaging said. surface and a friction surface on said column, a resilient member compressed between said friction member and kone of said walls, and aj rigid member springsupported from said frame and projecting through a complementary opening in said last-mentioned l wall, said rigid member being operatively engaged with-one end of said resilient member.

l 21. In a railway car truck', a supporting member, another member .spring-supported therefrom for vertical movementwith respect thereto, and friction means comprising a frictionshoe and a substantially Vertical precompressed -spring urging said shoe against converging surfaces on respective members, said spring being supported at one end thereof by a wall of saidsupported member, and a member` mounted on said supporting member and projecting through an opening in said Wall for operative engagement with said spring.

22. In a railway car truck, a supporting member, another member spring-supported therefrom, and friction means carried by the supported member comprising a friction shoe and a substantially vertical compressed spring urging said shoe against friction surfaces on respective members, said spring being supported at one end thereof by a wall of saidsupporting member, and a member resiliently mounted on said supporting member and projecting through an opening in said wall for operative. engagement with said spring.

23. In a railway car truck, a side frame with spaced columns, abolster spring-supported therebetween, and friction means Vcomprising friction elements in `wedge engagement with said bolster and in frictional engagement`with respective columns, precompressed substantially vertical springs ment with said bolsterv and in friction engagement with respective columns, precompressed substantially vertical springs ueachreacting at opposite ends thereof againstsaid bolster and the associated element, and rigid means resiliently supported' from said frame and having operative engagement with the ends of said springs reacting against said bolster for increasing the compression of said springs during an unusually great oscillation of said bolster. u l

25. In a railway car truck, aside frame comprising a column, a bolster vspring-supported from said frame adjacent said column, v'and :friction means comprising a friction shoe having. wedge engagement with said bolster and frictional en- K sagement with said column, and a pair of vertical and cooperating with abutment means on the bolster to limit expansion thereof.

26. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a column and a spring seat adjacent thereto, a spring group on said seat, a bolster supported from said group, and friction means comprising a friction shoe having wedge engagement withy said bolster and frictio-nal engagement with said column, and a plurality of substantially vertical springs arranged in series between said seat and said shoe for actuation of the latter, the lower of said springs being supported by said seat, and the upper of said springs being precompressed and cooperating with abutment means on the bolster to limit expansion of said upper spring.

27. In a railway car truck, a, side frame, a spring group on said frame, a bolster end supported on said group, a friction device carried by said bolster end at each side thereof comprising a spring and friction means urged thereby into engagement with a friction surface on said frame v for developing a substantially constant amount element in complementary wedge engagementv with-wedge means on the bolster, said element being in frictional engagement with friction means on said frame member, compressed resilient means reacting against the bolster and said element, and means carried by the frame and adapted to engage said resilient means for increasing the amount of pressure exerted thereby against said element during an unusually great downward movement of the bolster.

DAVID M. LIGHT. 

